Jonathan Kuminga was again the leading scorer as the Warriors took both preseason games against the Lakers, winning 129-125 in Los Angeles on Friday.
With 32 seconds remaining and facing a one-point deficit, rookie center Trayce Jackson-Davis followed up Brandin Podziemski’s missed 3-point attempt with a putback layup. Then, on the other end, he rejected Jalen Hood-Schifino’s layup attempt to maintain the lead. Two free throws from Kuminga and one from Podziemski ultimately sealed the game.
The Warriors are now 2-0 in preseason play, while the Lakers move to 2-2 — both losses coming against the Dubs.
STARS IN ACTION
Stephen Curry led all starters with 18 points in 20 minutes on 5-for-8 shooting. After playing exclusively in the first half during the opener, four of five Warriors’ starters — excluding Kevon Looney — played until midway through the third quarter. For the Lakers, all five starters scored in double figures — including LeBron James (12 points) and Austin Reaves (16 points)— who didn’t play in their first head-to-head meeting.
HOT START IN HOLLYWOOD
3-Pointers by Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell gave the Lakers an early 6-0 lead, but the Warriors quickly responded with a 13-0 run of their own. Stephen Curry opened the run, using a high ball screen to hit a rainbow 3-pointer and capped the run after freeing himself off-ball with a look-away splash. The Warriors went a perfect 5-for-5 during this stretch, including five points from Andrew Wiggins and a layup from Kevon Looney.
The Warriors shot over 60 percent from the field in the first quarter (13-for-21; 62%), with the Lakers (9-for-15) and Dubs (5-for-8) combining to shoot 14-for-23 (60.9%) from behind the arc.
KUMINGA’S ENCORE
Jonathan Kuminga led all scorers with 24 points in the first head-to-head preseason meeting against the Lakers on Oct. 7. Kuminga was again the game’s leading scorer on Friday, scoring 26 points on 9-for-12 shooting, including hitting his first six field goals.
The athletic forward had a highlight jam in the previous game and had another aerial highlight on Friday. In the second quarter, Kuminga used a jab and his quick first step to blow past LeBron James and explode to the rim for a two-hand tomahawk slam.
PODZIEMSKI PLAYMAKING
Rookie Brandin Podziemski excelled as a playmaker with a game-high 10 assists without committing a turnover. Podziemski has considered himself a triple-double threat and he flirted with one in this game with 10 points and a team-high six rebounds to compliment his 10 dimes.
UP NEXT
The Warriors head to Sacramento to face the Kings on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN) before returing to Chase Center to host the Kings on Oct. 18 (7 p.m.; NBATV). Wednesday’s game against the Kings will be ‘Stephen Curry College Grad’ bobblehead night and their home preseason finale against the Spurs on Oct. 20 will be ‘Paper Plane Klay’ bobblehead night.